Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-16
FIRM AS A ROCK.
Dies With a Single Desire Expressed
and That is to Show Game.
The Mandates of the Law Carried Out in
Full.
Officers Pale Before the Task--Mosier Seem
ingly the Least Concerned Of
Those Present.

prisoner Lee Mosier to the Office OF the
sheriff in the Jail building. The word
brought silence, and trembling the turn
key started on his painful duty.
Reaching the cell Of Mosier he found him
walking about the cell, awaiting the ordeal.
On being asked if he was ready he replied
firmly that he was.
The cage door was unlocked and Mosier
stepped into the corridor, May l say
goodbye to the boys, Ed:" was the request
made and granted willingly He called at
each cage and upon every man in the Jail,
about sixty in number and bid them good
bye. AS the two approached the jail door
Mosiers seized DarnelFs hand and thanked
him kindly for the many favOrs granted.
The door was unlocked and Sheriff
Hays was standing near in the hallway
and met him with extended hand. Mosier
also thanked the sheriff for his kind treat
ment. Reaching the office he seemed per-
ectly composed, apparently the least con-
cerned Of any man in the room. Looking
around at the sheriff he asked for stimu-
liant, and was reached a bottle of brandy,
from which he took A small drink. Dep
uty Sheriff. moved forward a step and
commenced reading the death warrant in
a quivering voice. A breathless silence
prevailed Mosier was the only one who
stood with unbowed head AS the deputy
performed his unpleasant duty he was
more and more overcome by his feelings.
Mosier moved not muscle, and seemed to
gain strength from the painful silence.
When the deputy read. land you shall be
hanged by the neck until dead" Mosier the
first and only time showed signs of weak
ening The muscles of his face twitched
for but moment, and he again was
master of himself. 1t becomes
my painful duty" The deputy could
not finish the sentence. He drew his nat
over his face and Mosier turned to the
sheriff again and asked for some more
stimulants. He was again given the bot
tie. This scene lessened the tension of the
nerves of those present. The deputy mo-
toned to deputies Wood and koontz to
take the prisoner to the sCatfOld. The
three headed a sad procession to the gal
lows. Soon they were in the stockade
The door was closed, and by actual count,
fifty-four were in the enclosure Koontz
led the way up the gallows steps, followed
first by Mosier and then by Woods. 1t
was 9:2S and Woods placed the prisoner S
hands in irons. At this moment Mosier
asked that his boots be removed from his
feet. He sat down on the scaffold step and
the deputy complied with the request.
Mosier had formerly declared himself a
disciple of the belief that it was disgrace
to die with ''boots on" and hence the re-
quest.
Deputy Sheriff. asked the prisoner if he
had anything to say. He hesitated. "You
have right to say anything you please
Lee, and you may not have another
chance. added the deputy.
Il am not afraid to die" was his first
remark. The voice was indistinct and the
few commenced to gather around the scat
fold, all eyes placed on the doomed man
Il hate this on account of my folks" he
said, after some hesitation. He then midi
Gated that he had nothing more to say
The deputies commenced to further perfect
arrangements when he turned and quickly
said as though he had intended to make
the statement and had almost forgotten
it, Tell Smith died game.
Smith is a United States prisoner, and for
some months had been his cell mate. They
had also been friends in the Territory.
So saying, Mosier stepped on the trap
under the moose, facing the west. While
Wood pinioned his legs, he carelessly
looked at the moose and up at the bright
blue sky, which was lighted up by the
mellow rays of a morning sun. The black
SLOUGH hat was then removed and the
black cap adjusted. The moose ad-
justed with the knot over the right ear,
Iyba Sbar,.;t inc cd al, -
the left. The change was soon made and
both deputies left the gallows. Wood told
Sheriff. ready" 1t was repeated
to the deputy assigned the task OF
springing the trap. The trap did
not fall Again the word was given and
the trap failed to fall In an impatient
manner Sheriff. gave the command OF
ready a third time The trap fell and soon
the stern mandates of the law were filled
The prisoner had been standing on his
right leg and the fall gave him an oscillat
ing motion. \ slight swing to the right
and left and turn of the body half round
and then back. 1t was soon steady and
the doctors appointed for the occasion com
menced observations of the pulse The
trap fell at 9:32l5.
showed the first muscular movement bv 3
drawing of the shoulders together
The fourth minute witnessed slight
elevation of the shoulders and an effort
to throw them forward.
The close of the fifth minute witnessed a
similar movement but more intensified
The sixth minute closed with the same
movement as the third.
The ending OF the seventh minute wit
messed a slight movement Of the shout
ders.
The moving OF the shoulders was re
peated at the close OF the eighth.
The close OF the ninth and tenth min
ute there was a similar movement, but
slight.
There were quite a number of timers and
all agreed that the movement of the shout
ders came almost exactly being one minuts
apart, The fact WAS the topic OF consider
able comment after the execution.
At the end of the fifth minute the pulse
was 100. One minute later it was dropping
fast AT the ninth minute no pulse, but a
good heart beat.
Two minutes later the heart had lost
first beat. One minute later it counted -
At the end of twelve and one-half minutes
he was pronounced dead. He was allowed
to hang until 9:5S when deputy Woods cut
the rope and the corpse was placed in the
coffin.
The remains were examined by the physi
clans detailed and it was decided that the
neck was not broken and death resulted
from strangulation. Some visiting physi-
clans thought the neck was broken between
the atlas and axis.
While the physicians were examining
the body Deputy Sheriff stated. never say